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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines - Graphics, Experiments, Animation

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders display simple machines through the use of graphics, experiments, and animation. They apply problem solving and design and skills.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Paper Airplane Science

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders recognize the need to follow the scientific method carefully and be aware of variables in experiments.  In this airplane lesson plan, 5th graders design and test an airplane, and complete a data sheet. Students retest five...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Popcorn Science: Pop Goes the Kernel!

For Teachers K - 12th
Students conduct various experiments to determine why popcorn pops. They design tests to determine the effect of water in the kernels on its popping. Once the experiments are completed, they write summaries of them proving or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explain how simple machines work and design their own machine. They use the Internet for research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science Lesson: Home-made Generator

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are able to design and conduct an experiment related to electrical generation. They are able to list the factors that affect the amount of current that can be generated by a simple generator, such as the number of turns of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines: Levers

For Teachers K - 7th
Students discover the fundamentals and daily applications of simple machines. They practice basic engineering theory through their hands-on demonstrations of levers.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines - Levers

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders lift objects with the fulcrum and load in various positions and then experiment with how much force is exerted by the effort and load arms of the lever. They place 5 paper clips in the load and move the fulcrum to match...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Uplifting Experience

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders conduct flight experiments.  In this uplifting experience lesson, 5th graders build an airfoil and place in a variety of conditions to observe the results of lift and force in flight, as well as angle of attack.  Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Changing Seasons

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners explore basic principles of seasonal change, ponder the mechanisms that drive these changes, and perform experiments that show what causes the earth to heat differently during different seasons.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Simple Motor?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students experience how to construct a simple electromagnet based motor. In groups they explore what a component is and construct a circuit that can rotate the orientation of the magnet by turning the switch on and off. Electromagnetic...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Experimenting with Magnets

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete four different experiments in classroom stations to investigate how magnets attract and repel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mad Science Lab: Original Lesson Plan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct a number of simple experiments, collect and categorize the results as either chemical or physical change. The lesson plan uses connections to folklore, science fiction and comic books to assist each student as they make...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Basic Physical Science Concepts

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars use the concepts of simple machines to construct a mobile. The inquiry is made in groups and presentations are made by constructing reports. The assessment is based upon the final product of the mobile and how students use...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Too Cool for School-The Greenhouse Experiment

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students create a town model and analyze the type of greenhouse gases their town emits. In this earth science lesson, students build greenhouses to investigate how trapped heat causes temperature change. They relate this activity to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Simple DC Motor

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students, after brainstorming how we interact with some kind of motor every day in our lives, explore how to build their own DC motor. They collect all the parts needed for their experiment and review all safety precautions. In addition,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Matter? (Experiments)

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students observe a scientific discrepant event, and are then challenged to create experiments to solve the dilemma.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rocket Science 101

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the aspects of Newton's First and Third Laws of Motion as they conduct controlled rocketry experiments and analyze the Mars Mission in terms of the principles of rocketry.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders are introduced to the six types of simple machines and discover how they make tasks easier. In groups, they rotate between stations to experiment with the different types of simple machines. To end the lesson, they make a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Battery fun

For Students 4th - 5th
Conduct an experiment with batteries to make a simple circuit. Fifth graders read the provided information, consider the two circuits, and determine which one is complete. An electrically charged experiment suggestion is included. Tip:...
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Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Sunlight and Evaporation

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Here is a simple inquiry experiment designed to demonstrate that the energy from sunlight can evaporate water. Young scientists follow provided procedural steps to construct a model of our atmosphere using a bowl, a cup, water and...
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Lesson Plan
Tech Museum of Innovation

Tree House Escape

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Use simple machines to escape from a tree house. Pupils learn about simple machines and how they are useful in everyday life in a STEM lesson. Groups then design a device to rescue a friend stuck in a tree house.
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

The Effects of Environmental Conditions on Aquatic Organisms

For Teachers 8th - 12th
What kind of experiment can your class do to how observe the environment effects on organisms? Groups design and conduct lab experiments to learn about the effects of the environment on aquatic organisms. Based upon knowledge gained from...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Tensile Testing of Polymeric Films and Sheeting

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Chemistry classes pretend to be consultants to a grocery story trying to decide what polymer to use for therir new non-paper bags. They prepare tensile bars and use them to test plastic film samples for strength and stretchability. Both...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Science: Teddy Bear Nation

For Teachers K - 1st
Students sort teddy bears according to types and then graph the results. They each bring a bear to class and then discuss their similarities and differences. Once the bears have been sorted into groups according to size and color,...